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This isn’t a good year to be poor and in need of medical services in Washington State. A host of Medicaid programs have been cut, effective January 1st. Those cuts are being felt by numerous Washington adults and include slashing all dental coverage except for emergency dental care, hearing aids, eyeglasses, and more.

State Medicaid Spokesman Jim Stevenson says the cuts to Medicaid aren’t pretty, but they are part of our new economic reality.

January cuts to Medicaid mostly affected programs aimed at adults such as dental, hearing, podiatry and vision, plus school based medical services and Medicare “part D” co-pay coverage. Stevenson says federal regulations have forced the state to focus on services primarily for children:

The cuts to Medicaid aren’t quite set in stone yet with more adjustments possible in March. The 2011 regular session of the Washington Legislature is set to begin January 10th, and of course, the budget will be a top priority.